We are the public policy voice ofIowa's Protestant, Christ-centered schools.

As a supporter of Christian education and school choice, we know you believe that all parents, regardless of address or income, deserve education choices that reflect academic goals and faith. The Iowa Association of Christian Schools supports an increase in the amount of the School Tuition Organization (STO) tax credits available to donors who make scholarships to lower and middle income families possible.

Last year, changes were made to ensure scholarships are available to nonpublic school families whose income is up to four times the federal poverty level. This was up from three times the federal poverty level previously. These scholarships enable parents to choose the school that best fits their child’s learning needs but the change in demographics eligible makes our call to increase the number of tax credits all the more urgent.

Currently $13 million in tax credits are available to donors and we are asking the legislature to increase that to at least $17 million in coming years. Our goal has been $20 million for a number of years but House and Senate proposals have been introduced and we want to support the larger number currently found in the Iowa Senate’s proposal.

Both the House and the Senate versions of a tax bill include an increase in the STO tax credits among a number of other tax-related topics. Senate File 631 includes a $4 million increase for a total of $17 million. If all tax credits were expended, that would raise about $26 million for scholarships. House File 779 includes a $1 million increase.

The Iowa Department of Revenue estimates this program saves the state at least $12 million a year because the students don’t attend a public school that would cost the state more money. The state does not write any checks for these scholarships as the money raised is private and the tax credits are a complete and separate discussion from public school funding. The session is in its final days and we are hopeful, with your help, we can get this increase over the finish line!

Please send your legislators a message in support of an increase in School Tuition Organization tax credits. Use the personal story box to add a personal story, communicate your desire for more children to have access to your school’s atmosphere/programing, or provide a general greeting or anecdote. Then, please read through the suggested message that will be included in the body of your email to your Rep and Senator and customize it to ensure they get as many uniquely written messages as possible. Thank you!

One of the primary roles of parents is to be involved in and direct the formal education of their children. There are many ways to accomplish this but those without the income to access more than one option lack that basic, fundamental right. The best way we know how to ensure every parent has access to what is best for their child is through Education Savings Accounts (ESAs). ESAs will allow parents who choose not to enroll their children in a public school to receive a deposit of public funds into a savings account set up by the state. This money could be used by parents for private school tuition and some other education expenses including tutoring, giving parents the ability to customize their child’s education to meet his/her needs.

Iowa has increased public school funding annually, while maintaining school choice programs such as the School Tuition Organization tax credits. IACS supports the state’s commitment to public and non-public education. We are not advocating that parents wanting to utilize a non-public option be given every financial resource available to the public system. We are simply asking that the state allow a portion of those resources to follow the student to ensure every Iowa parent has every available quality option at their disposal.

School choice will not lead to money being “siphoned away from public education and given to private education providers.” No state or local funding for public schools would be diverted to this program. ESAs would be funded by a separate appropriation by the legislature.

Senate File 372 was introduced this week and has passed the Senate Education Committee’s subcommittee. It is now eligible for debate in the full Education Committee. We encourage you to contact members of the Senate Education Committee and Senate leadership in support of an ESA program which would be accessible to as many parents as possible. Rewrite the sample message in your own words and keep your comments positive.

This week, hundreds of events across the country celebrated the diversity of school options available to parents currently and called on policy makers to make it easier for low- to middle-income families to make that choice too. In Iowa, IACS is part of the Iowa Alliance for Choice in Education, which hosted a legislative breakfast at the Capitol this week with legislators meeting administrators from around the state and students from St. Theresa Catholic school and Ankeny Christian Academy.

There were dozens of stories in statewide and local media about school choice week but here are a couple from NW Iowa popping up on our news feeds and google alerts today:

IACS Member school, “Newton Christian School,” is celebrating 60 years this year!

From Newton Christian School:

“In the 1950’s, parents of area churches had the God-given vision to form a Christian school in Newton. They wanted the school day to be an extension of the values and truths their children were learning at home. Now sixty years later, the school has grown, but still seeks to fulfill the vision they outlined. Two great grandchildren of the first principal now attend the school. We are grateful for the godly legacy left by those early founders and thank God for his faithfulness to Newton Christian.”

Congratulations! You can find out more about Newton Christian School on their website!